Vehicle top-support.



R. H. PFAPF.

.VEHIGLE TOP SUPPORT.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1912.

1,050,1 68, Patented Jan. 14,1913.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUDOLF H. PFAFF, OF ASHTABULA, OHIO.

VEHICLE TOP-SUPPORT.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, RUDoLr H. PFAFF, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Ashtabula, county of Ashtabula, and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vehicle Top-Supports, of which the following is a specification, the principle of the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which I have contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it from other inventions.

My present invent-ion relates to an improvement on the adjustable bow socket shown in my co-pending application filed November 15, 1911, Serial No. 660,482, and relates to the adapting of the means there shown for adjusting a carriage bow to bows of curved form.

To the accomplishment of these and related ends, said invention then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawing and the following description set forth in detail certain mechanism embodying the invention, such disclosed means constituting, however, but one of various mechanical forms in which the principle of the invention may be used.

In said annexed drawing :Figure 1 is an end view of a curved carriage bow having my adjusting member attached thereto; Fig. 2 is a view similar to Fig. l and showing the adjusting member in a different position; Fig. 3 is a section on the line 33 in Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 is a broken vertical section on an enlarged scale.

In Fig. 1, I show a part of a carriage bow comprising a main supporting member 1 and an auxiliary supporting member 2 in the form of a curved link which is pivotally attached to the main supporting member 1 on the pin 3. When my bows are attached to a vehicle they are intended to extend outwardly from the sides of the vehicle, thus permitting the top to overhang the same, and for this reason the member 1 is curved at its lower end, a pin 4 being attached to the end of the curved part transversely thereof, which will be attached, when the bow is in use, to an eye or socket mounted on the vehicle. The member 1 is of course adapted to swing in a plane at right angles to the in 4, while the member 2 is a shifter link for carrying an extension bow, as need not be further explained in the present connection.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 1, 1912.

Patented Jan. 14, 1913.

Serial No. 687,623.

In my co-pending application, identified in the foregoing paragraph, there is shown a main supporting member similar to the one here shown, but straight and without any curved port-ion. Vhen this main member is straight it will be a simple matter to attach an adjusting member thereto so that the latter may at all times fit closely against the main member and be parallel thereto, but when the main member is curved, as in the present case, it has been found very difficult to so construct or attach the adjusting member that it will not be in an awkward position during some of its operation. Thus it is possible to make the adjusting member 2 straight, but in this case it would strike against the member 1 when in the position shown in Fig. 1, although in its other position, that of Fig. 2, it would lie parallel to the main member 1. It would, of course, be possible to curve the adjusting member 2 in the same manner as is the member 1, but in this case when the adjusting member is in the position shown in Fig. 2 its end will eX- tend so far from the main member that it is unsightly and awkward to retain in this position.

The present attachment of the adjusting member 2 is designed to permit the latter to be fairly close to the main member at all times. Referring to Fig. 4, it will be seen that the line 12 is at substantially right angles to the straight portion of the main member, while the line 11 is at a slightly inclined angle thereto. The pin 3 which constitutes the axis about which the adjusting member will rotate, is attached by rivets 5 to the main member and will have its axis or central line at a slightly inclined angle to the line 12, as shown in Fig. 4. The adjusting member will be attached to this pin by means of a nut 6 in the usualmanner. The adjusting member will be slightly curved, but will not have the same curvature as will the main member, bein more nearly straight, asis evident from Tig. 1. Thus, when in the position of Fig.1, the adjusting member will have its lower end 7 close to the main member where it may be engaged by a locking member 8 pivotally attached between lugs 9 on the member 10 attached to the main member. The construction of the locking member is shown more clearly in Fig. 3, and it will be seen that the locking member is held normally in the position there shown, by means of a plunger 11 working in a socket 12 and operated by a spring 13.

As the adjusting member is rotated about its axis 3, the lower end 7 will be brought in toward the main member by reason of the inclination of the axis to a line at right angles to the main member. On account of the curvature of the adjusting member, the end 7 will not lie against the main member, but will be slightly spaced therefrom, as shown in Fig. 2. although this spacing will not be carried far enough to render it dif ficult to retain the member in this position. For this purpose a lug H is provided attached to the main member, and the member 2 will have a thickened portion 15 consisting of a band of leather or like material adapted to just enter the lug 14. It will be evident that other means may be provided to secure the desired action of the adjusting or auxiliary member '2. Thus, this member may be madeto take approximately the same positions with relation to the main member by disposing the pin 3 at right angles to the main member and then cutting the aperture in the auxiliary member at. less than a right angle. In this way the plane generated by rotation of the auxiliary member will be conical, adapting the path of the auxiliary member to conform substantially with the shape of the main supporting member. It is, of course, impossible to make the path of movement of the one member conform identically with the shape of the other but the present arrangement serves the purposes sufficiently.

The construction and operation of my device will be readily seen, and its advantages will be obvious. Since the carriage bow, of which the present invention will form a part, is adapted for use chiefly on automobiles, motor-boats, etc., it is essential that when folded the top be in as compact form as possible, and when in use that the top be as sightly and as easy to retain in that position as possible. For this reason, it will be seen that it is of great importance to have a smoothly operating and conveniently held carriage bow. 1

Other modes of applying tbs principle of my invention may be employed instead of the one explained, change belng'made as regards the mechanism herein disclosed,

Copies of this patent nlay'be obtained for provided the means stated by any one of the following claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed.

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention 1. A carriage bow, comprising main sup porting means pivotally mounted about a transverse axis, and auxiliary supporting means including a member pivotally mounted about an axis on said main means in the same plane as such first named axis, but at an angle to the same.

2. A carriage bow, comprising main supporting means, pivotally mounted about a transverse axis. and curved in the same plane as said axis, and an auxiliary supporting member pivotally attached to said main means about an axis in the same plane as said first-named axis but at an angle to the same.

3. A carriage bow, comprising main supporting means pivotally mounted about a transverse axis, and curved in the same plane as said axis, and an auxiliary curved supporting member pivotally attached to said main means about an axis in the same plane as said first-named axis but atan angle to the same, whereby said auxiliary member will lie substantially parallel to said main supporting means.

1. A carriage bow, comprising a main supporting member curved through one part of its length and straight through the remainder, said member being RUDOLF H. PFAFF. Attested by HORACE B. FAY, Biixxonn M. PRIEBE.

five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C'.

pivotally mounted at its curved end about a trans 

